The '59 Sound (US)

50年代の魂をパンク・ロックに込めた熱きサウンド!US ビルボード70位を記録したThe Gaslight Anthem の出世作が遂に日本盤としてリリース!アメリカでは"フォーク・パンク"という新しい波が起こり、The Gaslight Anthem はその中でも最も勢いのあるバンドと言っても過言ではないだろう。男気のある Brian の歌には今のシーンが忘れていた歌心が詰まっている。若き頃のブルー・スプリングスティーンやリプレイスメンツ・ファンは必聴!

lternative Press - 4 stars out of 5 -- "Fallon's lyrics continue to embrace the Americana ethos that is successfully married with a soulful punk sound as timeless as the sentiments that inspire him." Kerrang - "If you've ever felt love's sting, ever wished a summer would never end or ever felt hopes and promises crumble into dust, hearing THE '59 SOUND might just have the same effect on you." Q - 4 stars out of 5 -- "[They] blast out affecting, soulful punk rock strewn with bittersweet memories of small-town, blue-collar America." Kerrang - Ranked #2 in Kerrang's Best Albums Of The Year 2008 -- "[O]ne of the hottest rock bands of the year." CMJ - "The '59 Sound is at its most charming when the wall of guitars dissolves in 'Here's Looking At You, Kid' and 'Film Noir.'" Alternative Press (p.148) - 4 stars out of 5 -- "Fallon's lyrics continue to embrace the Americana ethos that is successfully married with a soulful punk sound as timeless as the sentiments that inspire him." Kerrang (Magazine) (p.48) - "If you've ever felt love's sting, ever wished a summer would never end or ever felt hopes and promises crumble into dust, hearing THE '59 SOUND might just have the same effect on you." Kerrang (Magazine) (p.65) - Ranked #2 in Kerrang's Best Albums Of The Year 2008 -- "[O]ne of the hottest rock bands of the year." Q (Magazine) (p.107) - 4 stars out of 5 -- "[They] blast out affecting, soulful punk rock strewn with bittersweet memories of small-town, blue-collar America."

The '59 Sound' is the second album from New Jersey based four piece Gaslight Anthem and their first for punk label SideOneDummy. Produced by Ted Hutt (Flogging Molly, The Bouncing Souls) the album's mix of punk, rock and soul sees them take influence from the New Brunswick hardcore scene, home to the likes of Thursday and The Bouncing Souls while incorporating the classic rock sound of New Jersey's most famous son Bruce Springsteen. Guest spots come from the likes of Hot Water Music's Chris Wollard and Mighty Mighty Bosstones' Dicky Barrett.|

In 1988, Jon Bon Jovi was being interviewed by a reporter for Spin Magazine when he was asked if he was a fan of Bruce Springsteen. Bon Jovi replied "In New Jersey, if you don't like Springsteen they raise your taxes." Listening to the Gaslight Anthem's second full-length album The '59 Sound, it's pretty clear that leader Brian Fallon doesn't have to worry much about his tax bill in the Garden State. Hailing from New Brunswick, NJ, the Gaslight Anthem are that rare punk band that displays a strong and unmistakable Springsteen influence, and while Fallon's vocal resemblance to the Boss is clearly coincidental (he has more than a bit of Bruce's throaty gravity without the grit), the boys-and-girls-on-the-backstreets tone of his lyrics is not, especially when stray fragments from Springsteen's lyrics pop up in Fallon's songs (cue up "Meet Me by the River's Edge" and "High Lonesome" for evidence). If Fallon often comes off as a youthful Springsteen wannabe on The '59 Sound, he also happens to be pretty good at it; the force and sincerity of his songs roll over the occasional clunky spots, and the band brings this music across with a strength and urgency that suggests a heartland rock version of Social Distortion, with Alex Rosamila's guitars and Benny Horowitz's drumming brimming with fire and energy. The Gaslight Anthem are far too good to be the New Millennium's answer to John Cafferty & the Beaver Brown Band, but it's all but impossible to listen to The '59 Sound without being aware of this band's key influence; even if they never grow out of their Springsteen obsession, they're worth hearing, but it's hard not to hope they'll develop a stronger identity of their own with time...though they may want to warn their tax accountant before that happens. ~ Mark Deming